Press release

Brazil come back to defeat Poland

Brazil stormed back from two sets down to edge Poland at "Yoyogi National Stadium" in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan, December 3, 2011 - Brazil rallied to beat Poland in five sets (18-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-12) on the second day of fourth-round action in the 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup at Yoyogi National Gym on Saturday. Despite the loss, Poland became the second team to qualify for the London Olympics on this day, after Russia did so by taking the first two sets in its win over Iran earlier in the day. Leandro Vissotto scored 23 points in the win for Brazil. Bruno Rezende was named the most impressive player of the match. Zbigniew Bartman was brilliant in defeat with a match-high 26 points for Poland. Poland appeared to let down after taking the first two sets and booking the ticket to London. The loss was just their second of the tournament while Brazil improved to 7-3 with the victory.

Brazil took an early 5-4 lead on a spike by Leandro Vissotto. A service ace by Bartman made it 7-6 for Poland. Nowakowski's block gave Poland an 8-6 lead at the first TTO. Poland moved ahead 11-8 and made it 12-8 on a smashing spike by Bartman. A nice tap by Bartosz Kurek took it to 13-10. Kurek's spike made it 15-10. A spike by Sidnei Dos Santos made it 15-11, but then Brazil sent a serve long and Poland led 16-11 at the second TTO. A net infraction made it 18-12 for Poland. Michal Winiarski spiked to make it 20-14. Another Bartman spike took it to 22-15. Kurek's soft spike gave Poland set point at 24-17 and they took the set when dos Santos served into the net. Bartman and Kurek had six points each in the set.

Gilberto Godoy's beautiful dink gave Brazil a 4-2 lead in the second set. Bartman's dink made it 7-6 for Poland. Brazil's Marlon Muraguti served into the net to give Poland an 8-7 edge at the first TTO. Poland made it 12-11 on a spike by Marcin Mozdzonek. Nowakowski's block put Poland on top 15-14 and they led 16-14 at the second TTO. Rezende sailed a spike long and Poland moved ahead by three points at 18-15. A Bartman spike made it 20-16. Bartman pounded another spike for 22-18. Godoy flew in for a spike to move Brazil within three at 23-20. Bartman struck again to give Poland set point at 24-21. Poland took the set 25-21 on a block by Kurek. The Poles qualified for the London Olympics by taking the second set. Bartman rang up nine points in the set.

Poland was on top 8-5 at the first TTO on a spike by Winiarski. A service ace by Winiarski made it 10-6 for Poland. Bartman's spike made it 12-8. Brazil called a timeout while trailing 13-8. A spike by Vissotto pulled Brazil within 13-11 and then Rezende made the deficit one with a fine block. Kurek sent a spike long and Brazil had equalized at 13-13. Brazil moved ahead 14-13 on a dink by Murilo Endres. A block by dos Santos gave Brazil a 16-14 lead at the second TTO. Dos Santos came up with another block for 19-15 as the momentum had cleary shifted to the South Americans. Down by six points at 21-15, Poland took a timeout. Dante Amaral's dink made it 23-17 as Brazil closed in on the set. Brazil clinched the set 25-18.

A reception error by Amaral saw Poland go up 5-3 in the fourth set. Vissotto's spike put Brazil in front 7-6. Endres fired a spike long and Poland led 8-7 at the first TTO. Brazil went ahead 10-9 on a spike by Amaral. Bartman's dink made it 12-11 for Brazil. Kurek levelled for Poland at 13-13 with a spike. Kurek tied it again at 15-15 with a service ace. Endres spiked to put Brazil up 16-15 at the second TTO. Rezende's spike gave Brazil a three-point lead at 19-16 and Poland called a timeout. Brazil led 21-17 after Vissotto's block. Poland took a timeout with Brazil leading 23-17. Vissotto drilled a spike to give Brazil set point at 24-19 and they claimed the set 25-19 on a block by Amaral. Vissotto had nine points in the set.

Winiarski served into the net to hand Brazil a 3-2 lead in the final set and then Amaral launched a service ace. Vissotto's spike made it 5-3 for Brazil. Kurek's spike tied it 5-5. Kurek rose for a spike and Brazil was up 7-6. They led 8-6 at the TTO. Vissotto missed with a spike and it was level at 8-8. Endres hammered a spike to end a great rally and Brazil was in front 11-9. Bartman ripped a spike for 11-10. Nowakowski moved it to 12-11 with a spike and Mozdzonek equalized with another for 12-12. Endres delivered a spike and Brazil went up 13-12 and then Lucas Saatkamp followed with a service ace to bring it to match point at 14-12. Brazil took the match 15-12 on one final block.